Our route along the German Fairy Tale Route takes us to the charming town of Hessisch Lichtenau where we meet Mother Hulda. In the heart of the Frau-Holle-Land nature park, the legend of Mother Hulda lives on.
The German Fairy Tale Route is a tourist route of 600 km from Hanau to Bremen. The heart of the route lies in the state of Hesse, where we previously visited Kassel and Alsfeld. From Alsfeld, it is just over an hour’s drive to Hessisch Lichtenau.
The Tale of Mother Hulda
The fairy tale of Mother Hulda, or Frau Holle, is less known to us than fairy tales like Little Red Riding Hood, Sleeping Beauty, or The Wolf and the Seven Goats. For that reason, here is a brief introduction to the story.
Once upon a time, there was a widow with two daughters: a diligent stepdaughter and a lazy daughter. One day, the stepdaughter fell into the well and ended up in a strange, beautiful land. Along the way, she helped take bread out of the oven and shook apples from the tree. She arrived at the house of Mother Hulda. The stepdaughter worked hard and shook the pillows so that it snowed on the earth. When she returned home, she walked through the gate where she was rewarded with gold. The lazy daughter was jealous and jumped into the well as well. She did not help Mother Hulda and, upon her return, was not rewarded with gold but covered in tar.
What to do in Hessisch Lichtenau?
Walking with Mother Hulda
In the park, you can take the loop walk of Mother Hulda, which is 1.3 km long, where you follow the feathers of Mother Hulda along artworks and special buildings of the city. Among other things, you can see the water well and the gate that the girls passed through.
In the park, you can find a sculpture of a carp and a donkey in the pond, referring to the nickname ‘Carp catchers‘ that the residents of Hessisch Lichtenau have. A legend tells of someone who went fishing in the pond. He feels that he has hooked a huge catch. He walks into town to proclaim that he has caught a massive carp. Together, they haul the catch out of the water, but it turns out to be a drowned donkey.
You can obtain the brochure with the route for free at the tourist office or book a guided walk in advance, where Frau Holle will accompany you. We highly recommend it, as she brings the fairy tale to life!
Museum Holleum
In the city, you can also find Holleum, the Mother Hulda museum, in a beautiful half-timbered house. It is a small, interactive museum with three worlds of Mother Hulda: the Unterwelt (Underworld), the Kräuterwelt (Herb World), and the Meißnerwelt.
It is often referred to four worlds in information brochures, but we have certainly only seen three…
The museum is open on Sunday from 2 PM to 5 PM, or by appointment. The information is provided only in German.
Where to eat in Hessisch Lichtenau?
We have lunch at the Greek restaurant Syrtaki. It’s the only restaurant in the city that is open during lunchtime. They serve delicious Greek dishes in a cozy and welcoming atmosphere. Whether you’re in the mood for classic souvlaki, fresh salads, or other traditional specialties, at Syrtaki you can enjoy a tasty meal to recharge for the rest of the day.
Where to stay in Hessisch Lichtenau?
From Hessisch Lichtenau, we continue to Heilbad Heiligenstadt where we spend the night at the campsite.
You can also sleep in the town itself at Motel Lohwasser or in one of the apartments that are available for rent.
Do you have any questions or would you like to know more? Feel free to send me a message.